jas84047

I start my 2 week pre-op liquid diet on Wednesday! I will admit to many food funerals over the weekend... as well as ice cream (only) for lunch today. Happily, my doc actually told me to "get all the foods you'll miss outa your system now" because if there is evidence of cheating on my pre-op diet he'll close up and not do the surgery. He said those that do have the food funerals tend to do better than those who self extended their diet due to boredom of pre-op foods and low self control while still having ghrelin. I was shocked & relieved to hear that. 24 hrs from now will be my last meal! So, so, so excited to finally be in the home stretch!

No my husband hasn't been to my appt. I've only had one and it was a year ago. He can't go to my pre-op appt this week due to work. He is not a social guy to go to support groups, does not do computers and not really a reader so I'm super lucky he's even willing to read 1 or 2 sheets a paper. I've told him all I've learned (no binder from my doc...just a seminar and one on one with the surgeon) but he wants what he calls a 'cheat sheet' with all the important facts.

I'm trying to find some kind of pamphlet or document for my husband for after my surgery. Something to explain all the rules/diet/requirements/life changes/emotional changes that will be happening to me. I have done my research and learned it all from so many resources but cannot find something simple and to the point to give my husband. He's willing to learn - which is huge for him - but it has to be something fairly concise but I really want him to get the full idea of what is all to come. Help?

@@LauriTX75

It's me! My surgery is 2 days before my 40th! I'm super excited about my surgery and super sad about turning 40. :'( I was going to have a big party for my birthday but now will be in the hospital. Oh well... I think I'll Celebrate my BIG 4-0 on 41 with a new thinner me.

@@thinner-me

Totally understand the soda thing. That was my last vice to give up. I've been soda free for 77 days now. It was horrible and I really still want a Pepsi more than anything but I figured I'd rather have the soda/caffeine withdrawls now instead of when I'm miserable from surgery and loss of food after surgery.

I have heard your tastes change for some... but hoping I'm not one of those. I'm already a horribly picky eater (I literally like nothing but cheese, potatoes, noodles and bread! And only eat chicken/turkey in the way of meats... yea, this is gonna be SUPER HARD on me!) I have always liked SlimFast shakes for Breakfast though so I plan to keep the shakes at least for 1 meal even after I am on normal foods.

As for food funerals: Yep. A couple times a week I have been 'splurging'... I just got back from lunch with my mom at Chili's. (Mmmm chips and queso! ) And since I will just be getting out of the hospital on my birthday my husband and I are going to my favorite restaurant - The Cheesecake Factory - and celebrating my birthday a couple days before my pre-op diet starts... that will be thee biggest pigout/food funeral of them all! (#guilty)

So... what is everyone doing to prepare for your surgeries next month?

I've been doing the normal things- figuring out work time off, what to do with my kids and asking for help when my husband goes back to work. I've also been doing surgery things like taste testing different Protein drinks (I am not a fan of Syntrax, I love Premier Protein), reading books and packing away all my fat clothes!

@menelly... lucky you only 10 day! And Yep... correct on midvale! LOL

@@Menelly That would be hilarious if you got July 1st too! I'll be at LDSH too! And yes June 3rd is way too early because you'll still need to do your 2 week pre-op diet. Hopefully soon though!

I wish I had started this process with RMAP! I considered switching but didn't want to prolong my surgery any farther and I knew BMI would never have given me my records or tests to take to RMAP. I've heard great things about McKinley... whens your surgery?

The insurance says it says absolutely nothing...just that they cover it. We've talked to several people within the insurance company and they all say the same thing.

What insurance do you have? A lot have their criteria online. I know they have to have one, it's simply talking to the right person to get it to you. I work in health insurance and there is a policy/criteria for every single procedure!

Thanks @@Smye for all the great info! I have bookmarked those recipes. I will keep the shaker bottle in mind - I figured the bullet would be better since most Protein powders are so clumpy but I guess I didn't realize they also create a froth issue.

@@dandylion_23 I did have to show I could lose weight during those 6 months and I had to have at least 6 weigh ins. I think that is a pretty common thing. Have you talked to your insurance directly for their requirements and gotten it in writing? I found a lot out the hard way just believing what the Dr's staff told me they'd need.

I made my initial appt sometime in may 2014. The earliest initial consult appt was July 2 2014. I started what I was told was my 6 mo diet program in Aug 2014 & was done with all pre-reqs in Feb 2015. When the insurance specialist finally got around to submitting to my insurance in April 2015 I found out I didn't need the 6mo diet program I was told to do because I only needed 6mo worth of PCP notes stating we discussed my weight & diet. Because I see my doc regularly I could've had my surgery last year. So... long story... this process has taken A Year!

@@dandylion_23 Yes the staff is very rude! They also are extremely slow and do not return calls or emails. When they do return emails they are snippy and short. I've had this problem with both the insurance "specialist" and scheduler. In fact, the scheduler called today to finally give my date after saying she'd call me back last Thursday. At the end of the call she said she'd send me an email with all my preop details and appt. No email yet....

Here's hoping you have a better experience.

I seriously considered going elsewhere but I'm already this far in.

Thanks @@CanyonBaby! I was wondering if I could do that without tasting the Protein Powder. What type of powder do you use?

After a year of a pre-reqs and a battle with my insurance company and the painful slowness of my surgeon's office staff I FINALLY got my surgery date!!

July 1st 2015 - 2 days before my 40th birthday! I guess there will be no cake for me! LOL

OMG You read my mind! I was just coming to post something exactly like this!

My surgeon's office is horrible! They do not return phone calls and IF they do they take days. They say they'd rather have emails but then when the reply they are snippy and rude. I had the worst time with the insurance lady and have been waiting over a week after my insurance authorization to get my surgery scheduled!

I like what I've met so far of my surgeon (only one initial visit a year ago) but his staff is seriously making me feel like I should look elsewhere but like you I'm so far into this that I just don't want to do that.

Hello! Is anyone from Utah still active or around? I'm a patient of BMI/Dr Cottam and hope to have my surgery in July. Looking for some local peeps?

My surgery is in a few weeks so I've been trying a whole bunch of Protein Drinks. Today I tried the Cherry nectar and it was HORRIBLE! I tried adding some Crystal Light Cherry Limeaid drops and it helped it slightly but I couldn't make it through a 16oz glass. Do they all taste bad? I'm trying specifically to find things for the Clear Liquids phase and I'm getting really nervous. I tried just pouring the powder in my water bottle but it was too clumpy so I put it all in my NutraBullet and then it was a huge frothy mess. After the froth died down I drank it (well about 3/4 of it) but the aftertaste and texture was bad. HELP? Please give this newbie some advice, other brands, recipes, tips or tricks.
TIA!

Who is your surgeon? I'm curious! I'm going to Dr. Cottam in SLC.

Dr Cottam

What part of the process are you at? Their office staff is a JOKE! :/

Just wanted to update y'all....

I sent in my emails from my pcp to the insurance showing I had 'supervision ' during the 6mo nutritionist program and after threatening legal action got my surgery APPROVED Thursday! Now I wait to get onto my surgeons schedule. Looking like my VSG will be sometime in June! Soooo excited!

Thanks Chele! I won't give up... but probably will be bitching about it for a bit. LOL

I saw the surgeon last July for my first visit and afterwards met with the office lady who gave me all the prepreq's the insurance would require. I did those in the last 10 months and sent them all into my surgeon's office insurance lady in Feb. The insurance coordinator at my surgeon's office was the one who submitted everything I've done that was required on 4/27. I've followed it all by the book. This is just a new requirement I wasn't aware (and I guess neither was the surgeon's insurance lady, who I may add is not very bright) of a year ago that will add another 6months too I'm afraid.

@@marybowlus, My insurance company is SelectHealth (IHC/Intermountain Healthcare). It's the largest company in Utah. I work for the hospital side of the healthcare company, but I work closely with the insurance side so I know the process.

@@TEXASLADY52, There are what's called Case Managers for large procedures or diseases and so it's only one person. I can't really talk to someone else because they will just refer me to my case manager. There's also another 'hiccup' where my SIL is a Case Manager for the company and since none of my family knows I'm doing the surgery I don't want to cause too much of a ruffle in that department.

I think the biggest issue I have is the fact that after everything I now have to go to the doc 3x in a 6mo time period just so I can prove my weight?! That seems like a strange and very costly thing to do??

I've been working on my prerequisites for my Sleeve for almost a year and have been fighting to get it authorized for the past 3 months. I thought I fulfilled all my requirements but after 2 1/2 weeks of waiting for my insurance company to approve/deny they called me this morning. They cannot approve without medical records from my PCP for a 6 month period showing at least 3 visits with weights where I haven't gained - not even a single pound! But... the 6 month Dr supervised diet period does not count! I don't go to my PCP that often. I try not to. I thought that's what they wanted you to do! I've already submitted records from 2012-2013 like requested. I'm livid and freaking out. I've waited and done everything and if I cannot get this covered in the next few months I will not be able to have it until 2016 due to my work schedule. And, by then I will have to start all my prerequisites over because they will be too old. What now? What can I do?

I'm sick about this. And what makes matters worse is I work for the company my insurance is through! I understand all the ins/outs of insurance better than most!

Thoughts anyone? I'm seriously stuck. :'(